YDS 2021 in Review

Minimal resources enforce
“omnipresent” coercive measures,
reducing the need for co-optation while
simultaneously strengthening the
regime's stability and reducing the
possibility for a ‘Tiananmen-II’.
The fundamental contributor to China’s
timely ascension to superpower status
and high levels of support for the CCP is
rooted in 30 years of unprecedented
economic growth. Their impressive rise
to become the world’s second-largest
economy as the result of substantial
economic growth over this period has
tripled the economy, setting the state
on course to overtake the US economy
by 2030.
This exceptional economic growth has
enabled China to excel within the global
capitalist market and promote the
Chinese governance model abroad.
Growing confidence in their economic
achievements has flowed into their
foreign policy, evident in the CCP’s
hardened position on territorial
disputes in the South China Sea, One
China policy and the ambitious One Belt
One Road infrastructure development
initiative. Promoting Chinese ideals
internationally through infrastructure,
aid policy and military prowess will
continue to solidify China’s position as a
global power and prolong regime
support.
monopoly over many economic,
financial and social institutions.
Furthermore, state control assists elites
in controlling wealth distribution and
decreasing incentives for democratic
reform. It is no surprise that a positive
relationship is found between
economic growth and higher levels of
support for the regime. The stability
provided by economic growth has been
crucial to the CCP’s survival strategy,
raising potential concerns for the CCP
upon economic downturn amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic, energy shortages
and a deteriorating housing market.
Consequently, China faces challenges in
the coming months that may derail
economic progress and delegitimise the
party’s governing ability.
The state plays a primary role in
economic growth, controlling the
nature, scope, content and direction of
market reform while maintaining a
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